Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's repeated comments before the election that Australia was facing 'a budget emergency' with net debt forecast at 13 per cent of GDP. I also refer to comments yesterday by Mr Abbott, who said:

… a ratio of debt to GDP at about 50 or 60 per cent is a pretty good result looking around the world.

Minister, when did the Prime Minister mislead the Australian people—before the election or after it?